Detailed information about guppies, a must-read for novices

The scientific name of guppies is Poecilia reticulata, and its English names are Bellyfish, Guppy, and Millions. In taxonomy, it belongs to the Poecillidae family. ), is a type of fish that is ovoviviparous (Livebears). The origin is in Central and South America (Brazil, Venezuela and the Amazon River area), and its common name is GUPPY.

The earliest record in the literature was in 1886 AD, when the British missionary Robert John Lechnere Guppy brought back a group of small fish of different shapes from South America and presented them to the British Museum in the United Kingdom. , in order to commemorate his contribution, the English common name of this fish was GUPPY, and the name GUPPY spread throughout the European continent.

Guppy is a species of fish introduced from abroad to Taiwan in the early days to prevent dengue fever. It is also known as the "big belly fish" in the early days or the Guppy as the small Japanese animals call it. . When the fish was introduced to Asia, it was called guppy because its tail was as dazzling as a peacock. After a long period of artificial pre-breeding and improvement, it is today's guppy. Guppies have been shrouded in mystery since ancient times due to their treacherous and changeable nature. Because of this, there is a famous saying in the aquarium community: "Start by raising guppies, and eventually return to guppies." It can be seen from this Guppies are far more attractive than any other fish! Due to the ever-changing nature of guppies, there is no comprehensive conclusion yet on species and breeding. This article only briefly describes them in a simple and concise way!

The naming of guppies:

There are hundreds of strains of guppies. According to the regulations in the competition, they can be roughly divided into the following categories:

Grass has thin dots on the tail, and there are no connections between each dot

MOSAIC has thick dots on the tail, and each dot is connected to each other

Three dresses (TUXEDO) There is a clear color difference between the waist and the head of the dress waist

Four solid colors (SOLID) The color of the whole guppy is single color

Five snakes KING COBRA The fish has snake or leopard patterns on its body

SWORD The tail appears as a single sword, double sword or bottom sword

Qibaizi’s eyes are red or Wine-red eyes

Eight fish species with special tail-shaped fins and tail shapes

Guppies can be named according to the color of the fish’s head, the color of the body and waist, Named by the color of its tail and the shape of its tail and fins.

1. The color of the head can be divided into three types: black (wild color), yellow (yellow), and white (white).

2. The color of the body can be divided into: black (dress), texture (snake print, leopard print), bright blue (Japanese blue),

Platinum, gold, galaxy , yellow, red, blue, orange, purple, white, green and other thirteen colors.

3. The color of the tail can be divided into: fine points (red grass tail, blue grass tail, yellow grass tail, purple grass tail, orange grass tail, green grass tail), thick spots (red mosaic, blue mosaic, yellow mosaic, purple Mosaic, orange mosaic, green mosaic), lace, yellow, red, blue, orange, purple, white, green and other twenty kinds.

4. The tail types can be divided into: triangle tail, swallow tail, piano tail, sword tail, bottom sword tail, double sword tail, flag tail,

flame tail, needle Eleven types including tail, round tail, spear tail, etc.

5. Fin types can be divided into eight types: small ribbon, ribbon, large ribbon, C-shaped large ribbon, butterfly wing, flag back, extended back, and large sail back.

6. There are also some names based on the place of origin, people’s names or artificial names, such as: Andras, Venezuela,

Matli, Black Diamond, Vienna Emerald , Moscow blue (red), American all red...etc.

In this way, if guppies are really subdivided, there will be thousands of strains, but we do not need to worry about the naming and strains of guppies, because as long as we adhere to the above naming principles, You will definitely be able to name and classify every fish you see in the most correct way!

II. Grading of guppies:

Guppies are currently classified into S, A, B and C according to international standards (IFGA).

The key points of its classification are as follows:

The bigger the body, the better, the thicker the waist, the better, and the straighter the body, the better

Two tail colors The thicker, the better, the clearer the color, the better, the bigger the fin shape, the better, the wider the opening angle, the better

The larger the three dorsal fins, the better, and the longer the better

The more uniform the body color, the better, and the more distinct the better.

The five overall characteristics are a large tail, a thick waist, a thick color, and an elegant swimming posture.

Those who meet all the above five points It is S level, followed by A level, B level or C level.

Habits of ginseng and guppies:

Guppies are native to the Amazon River and are a tropical fish species.

Because in the natural ecological environment, guppies are in an environment with a large temperature difference between day and night, and their adaptability is equally strong in terms of cold resistance and heat resistance.

At the same time, guppies are distributed in the middle and lower reaches of rivers. They can be seen from the middle reaches of the river to the estuary. Therefore, guppies are very sensitive to the pH and pH of the water. The hardness (KH, GH value) adaptability is also quite strong.

Although this does not mean that guppies can survive quite well in all water quality conditions. The temperature tolerance range of guppies is about 8℃~35℃, and the most suitable temperature is Between 22°C and 30°C, if the temperature tolerance range of the fish is exceeded, the guppy's body functions will experience an immediate crisis, causing disease and even death.

In terms of water hardness, guppies are most suitable to live in water with a slightly higher hardness, so guppies grow best in waters with a hardness between 7 and 12. Regarding the acid-base requirements of water quality, guppies like to live in slightly alkaline waters, with a pH range between 7 and 8.

If guppies are raised in an environment where the water quality varies greatly, they are prone to develop various pathological changes. Even if they are raised in water where the hardness difference is too great, the fish will easily become thinner and thinner.

Guppies are a gregarious ovoviviparous fish species. Male fish are generally smaller than females, but the body color of males is much brighter than that of females. The lifespan of guppies is normal. It can last up to one and a half years and up to three years.

Whether in nature or kept in aquariums, peacocks have the characteristics of living and swimming in groups. They will act in groups to forage and avoid attacks from other large fish species; in terms of mating and reproduction, peacocks Fish are ovoviviparous fish with internal fertilization. The male fish chases and swims around the female fish, and shows his tail to please the female fish, and then swims parallel to the female fish. The male fish Quickly swing the genitals to quickly inject sperm into the female fish. The sperm and eggs are fertilized in the female fish. The number of fertilized eggs can reach more than 96%. The mating action is completed in less than one second. The rapid movement and fertilization of fish eggs are unmatched by all fish species.

After the eggs are fertilized, they can give birth to small fish in about 21 to 30 days. Approximately 20 to 250 small fish are born. After the birth is completed, the female fish will drive the small fish away. At this time, the small fish that are too weak to swim will be eaten by the female fish. The guppies do not take care of them. The characteristics of larval fish, but on the contrary, they will also prey on small fish! The young fish become capable of reproduction after 20 days of growth. The sperm of the male fish and the eggs of the female fish are already mature at this time, and both have the ability to reproduce the next generation.

Guppy fish are only 0.3 centimeters in size when they are born. When they grow into adults, their body length can reach up to eight centimeters. From small fish to adult fish, they grow fifty times. The body size changes rapidly. .

In terms of food intake, guppies are heterogeneous fish. All smaller creatures, as long as the mouth of the guppy is full, is the food of the guppy, including paramecia, Rotifers, water fleas, silkworms, red worms, larvae, small fish, shrimps, etc., as well as small insects that fall into the water, such small creatures in the water are ideal food for guppies; algae in the water and those that fall into the water Plants in the water are also another food source for guppies, such as: filamentous algae, green algae, coccus algae, blue-green algae, brown algae, etc. Guppies also love it; rotten animals and plants in the water are also another protein for guppies. important source. Simply put, guppies can be said to be tropical fish with a good appetite for eating anything!

1. Fish tank: Choose according to the number of guppies expected to be raised. In principle, players generally keep one strain of fish, and the number of tanks should be at least four. One tank is for small fish, one tank is for male fish, one tank is for female fish, and one tank is for breeding fish. If it is for viewing purposes, it is up to the viewer to decide according to their personal planning.

Fish tank size Number of fish

Number of small fish Number of adult fish Number of breeder fish

Eight-inch tank 40 20 2 pairs

One foot Cylinders 50 25 3 pairs

One foot two cylinders 60 30 4 pairs

One foot three cylinders 80 40 5 pairs

One foot and a half cylinders 100 50 6 pairs

Two-foot cylinder 200 100 10 pairs

Two-and-a-half-foot cylinder 250 120 15 pairs

Three-foot cylinder is not suitable 300 is not suitable

A four-foot tank is not suitable for 600. Not suitable

2. Filtration system: You can use back filter, upper filter, submersible filter, water fairy filter and other types. If players want to breed, it is recommended to use For water fairy-style filtration, if you simply appreciate it, you can use other types of filtration equipment.

3. Warmer: Use temperature control equipment and quartz rod heating to set the temperature at 28 degrees; or use a fixed-temperature heater for heating. The use of heating gas is limited to winter or mountainous areas with large daily temperature differences. In general cities, there is no need to purchase it.

4. Substrate: The growth status of guppies is quite good regardless of whether there is substratum or not. However, in view of the concept of aesthetics and digestive bacteria cultivation, it is recommended to use substratum. The choice of bottom sand can use coral sand, silica sand, Yilan stone, etc., which are more commonly used and are also easier to cultivate digestive bacteria.

Others such as black emery, glass sand, etc. can also be used, but the effect is not good.

5. Fish tank layout: In the player's aquarium, negative water reproductive plants such as small banyan trees, iron crowns, etc. or floating plants such as water hibiscus, duckweed, etc. can be planted to stabilize the water quality. The nitrate content in it, on the other hand, can also give newborn fish or adult fish a place to hide and live.

6. Lamps: Any type of lamps can be used. For pure pre-seeding or propagation, you can use sun lamps or fluorescent lamps. If it is in an aquatic plant tank, the main light source is suitable for the growth of aquatic plants. Whether it is breeding or viewing, guppies also need to rest, and they must not be exposed to light for several hours, otherwise it will easily damage the immune system of the guppies.

7. Feed: The selection of feed is mainly based on protein feed. It is better to choose feed with higher protein content. The particle size is powder or fine particles not exceeding 0.1 cm. At present, guppy feed can be mainly divided into two types: live bait and dry feed:

8. (1) Live bait is a natural protein food with high nutritional content and is the most ideal feed for fish. Unfortunately, it is difficult to obtain and handle, and has serious bacterial problems, such as water fleas, silkworms, and red worms; the other is brine shrimp. This kind of live bait is to purchase brine shrimp eggs and hatch them in salt water, and then feed them directly after hatching. , is currently the most commonly used live bait with the best nutritional content. (2) Dry feed is powdery and fine particle feed on the market. There are many brands on the market, which can be roughly classified into four categories: special feed for guppies, special feed for general small fish, zero feed for sweetfish, and shrimp feed. Among them, guppy-specific feed has the best quality because this feed is specially tailored for the growth and nutrition of guppies, and is the best choice among dry feeds. Other feeds can also be used, but the growth status of the guppies remains to be determined.

9. Fish selection: Generally speaking, 80% of the reasons why guppies die are due to problems in the selection of fish. Based on the current source of guppies in Taiwan, 90% of them are caused by Major farms in the south, and 90% of the live bait used in the farms in the south uses silk earthworms. Silk earthworms grow in dirty waters and are seriously contaminated with bacteria. They often become ill and die after you buy them; in addition, Groundwater is used for farming in the south. After the fish are sold to the north, the aquarium does not complete the water treatment, causing the guppies to maladapt to the water quality and die. You should look for an aquarium or a guppy specialty store that has professional knowledge about guppies, so that the fish you purchase are more guaranteed.

How to cultivate suitable water quality for guppies:

As mentioned before, guppies are not picky about water quality, but they need a good water quality environment to grow guppies. Raise them well and keep them beautiful, otherwise you can only say that you are raising guppies...

Most of the water used by ordinary households at present is tap water from water plants, in which a lot of water is added because it is suitable for human use. Chlorine and disinfectants are not suitable for raising guppies, and must be properly treated before they can be used for guppies...

In the steps of raising water, heavy metals and chlorine must be removed from the water. Generally, you can use The chemical agent "Haibo" or "water quality stabilizer" are sold in general aquariums. These agents can effectively remove excess chlorine in the water and precipitate and decompose harmful substances in the water to achieve stabilization... If you do not use these agents, you can also "Tap water" can be used after it has been left to stand for a few days. The chlorine in the water will naturally decompose and the debris will precipitate.

You can also use a container. After adding tap water, use the hose of the inflator motor to create bubbles in the water, which is effective. Decompose and gasify "chlorine". Of course, these are all feasible methods, the difference is the effect.

Steps to put in the tank:

Buy it from the aquarium tank The heaviest thing about guppies is how to properly place them in the prepared tank. Improper placement in the tank can easily lead to the death of the fish...

Be careful when placing fish in a new tank. , do not put it directly into the fish tank as soon as you buy it. This way of raising fish will ensure that your fish are not dead enough. For fish bought from the aquarium, first rinse the bag containing the fish with tap water, because when the fish is packed in the aquarium, The bag will be filled directly with water in the fish tank to catch fish. This action is for cleaning and sterilization to prevent the water in the aquarium from being bad.

Put the whole bag into the fish tank again without opening the mouth of the bag. , wait for about 2 hours....

This step is to make the water temperature in the fish tank consistent with the water temperature in the bag.... It is less likely to pinch the tail when releasing the fish...

The next step is very important. Pour out a little water from the fish tank and put it into a container....

Then use a net to pick up the purchased fish and put it into the container. Inside, instead of directly pouring the fish into the fish tank...

This action basically does not use the water in the aquarium. Unless the aquarium is trustworthy, otherwise the water will not be used...

After putting the fish out into the container, add a little salt in the container, about a small spoonful.... Wait for about ten minutes...

Note to prevent The fish jumps out... Wash the aquarium bag, then pour the fish and water in the container into the bag... Put the bag directly into the fish tank without sealing it, and wait about half an hour for the fish to arrive. Put it in the tank... There is one most important thing to remember. First, you need to know whether salt is added when raising fish in the aquarium, and whether there is too much salt... If you don't know, you will need to go back to the processing steps. Add salt to the water, about 20g of salt in a 1-foot tank (about half a spoonful of soup). By analogy, you can slowly change the water to dilute it after a few days...

In the future, change the water to about 20g. Start changing the water after 3 days, changing about 1/4 each time. At the same time, observe the cleanliness of the water...

If there are too many fish feces impurities in the water, you can use a small fine net to remove them... . Change 1/4 of the water every 3 days...

Then do a major water change every 2 weeks, about 2/5, and clean the tank every 2 months. ..

Be careful when cleaning the tank. First take out most of the water in the original fish tank, about 2/3 of it, and put it together with the fish.... Clean the tank and the sand, and then First add 1/3 of the water to the fish tank,

Put in about 10cc of water quality stabilizer and digestive live bacteria, and then put the original 2/3 of the reserved water into the fish tank...Put the water in first , put the fish in last, remember this step to ensure that the fish is fine... Advice for novices:

If you want to add bottom sand to the fish tank, please use fine bottom sand, the finer the better. Good...

The reason is that mixed small and large particles or large particles of bottom sand will form gaps at the bottom of the fish tank...

These gaps will allow excess feed to be hidden in the bottom of the fish tank. If it stays in the cracks of rocks for a long time, it will rot... causing the water quality to deteriorate...

It is best to raise two moss rat fish and small white rat fish in the tank... mainly used to remove sand. Excess feed and sundries... These are all set up, and water quality stabilizers and digestive live bacteria are also prepared....